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On top of the words ut'shuvah utefila utzedakah1 in most machzorim it also says Zom, Kol, Mamon2.

Why zom on teshuvah if the Rambam's formula for teshuva (Hl. Teshuva 2) no mention of fasting; why not vidui azivas hachet etc., instead?
Why kol (voice) by utefila when you can also have tefila belachash (quietly)?
Why mamon by zedakah?


1: And Repentance, and Prayer, and Charity [removes the severity of the decree]
2: Fasting, Voice, Money

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  • I would first ask why the order Tesh' Tef' Zed' and start here K"R on Eccl. 7:12 Chazal bringing I Chron 7:14 isn't it well founded the ktub sequence Pray/*Tef'* seek-Presence/*Tzed'* Repent/*Tesh'* ? sefaria.org/… Feb 22, 2023 at 15:06
  • -- but meanwhile while there look to the head and let's not only look at the bad/bedieved but at the good בְּיוֹם טוֹבָה הֱיֵה בְטוֹב, אִם נִזְדַּמֵּן לְךָ יוֹם טוֹב תְּהֵא עוֹשֶׂה אוֹתוֹ מִיָּד. וּבְיוֹם רָעָה רְאֵה, -- Rabbi Nachman said whoever is by him on Erev Rosh haShanah, he seals him for a Shanah Tovah l'alter immediately already on the First Day that this is the gift that H"Y gave him ztz"l Na Nach Feb 22, 2023 at 15:07

2 Answers 2

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The Sefer HaMinhagim of R' Yitzchak Tyrnau notes that all three words have the same gematria of 136; this is to remind us that all three aspects are equally important (Hagahos haMinhagim Aseres Y'mei Teshuvah). The Chasam Sofer notes that these three elements were employed by the people of Ninveh in their efforts to achieve divine pardon, and this set the precedent for future generations (Commentary to perek Arvei Pesachim).

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The Maharil also notes the gematrias. The reason is that during the middle ages, a question arose as to why the author of the piyut deviated from the order of the 3 actions as stated in the Talmud Bavli (I don't have the source or quote handy). Some tried to change the order around in order to match the Talmudic sources and others felt the need to preserve the text of the piyut as they had it. The point made by those gematrias is that, in fact, all three actions are equal and they shouldn't change the order.

In fact, the piyut's composition predates the Talmud, a fact that the medieval authorities were probably unaware of.

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    According to Artscroll, UNesaneh Tokef was written by Rabbi Amnon of Mainz (if I remember correctly)
    – b a
    Sep 21, 2012 at 23:51

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